Cal Quantrill brilliant again as Rockies hold on to beat the Twins

Cal Quantrill is turning out to be the heist of the offseason.

The Rockies’ right-hander, acquired from Cleveland in November after the Guardians had designated him for assignment, was brilliant again Tuesday night in Colorado’s 5-4 win over the Twins at Target Field.

And speaking of brilliance, All-Star Game candidates Ezequiel Tovar and Ryan McMahon woke up the Rockies’ sleepy offense with timely home runs.

Tovar blasted a three-run homer off lefty reliever Caleb Thielbar in the sixth. It was Tovar’s 11th homer. McMahon followed up with a double off the right-field wall, advanced to third on Jacob Stalling’s sacrifice bunt, and scored on Michael Toglia’s sacrifice fly to give Colorado a 4-0 lead.

In the eighth, after the Twins had cut Colorado’s lead to 4-2 with Byron Buxton’s two-run homer off reliever Victor Vodnik, McMahon launched a two-out, 441-foot solo homer to right to give the Rockies a 5-2 cushion.

As it turned out, McMahon’s 11th homer of the season was the much-needed difference-maker because Carlos Santana hit a two-run homer off Colorado closer Tyler Kinley in the ninth before Kinley got his fifth save.

“The last couple of games our offensive has been struggling,” McMahon told Rockies.TV.  “But ‘Tovie’s’ our guy. He’s our best player, and he came up with a big hit.”

As for his own homer, McMahon added: “I’ve been grinding, but it feels good to help the team win.”

Quantrill blanked Minnesota for six innings, allowing just three hits (all singles), striking out five and walking one. He did plunk two batters but was never in trouble. The right-hander has turned his split-finger fastball into a reliable weapon. Of his 100 pitches, 40 were splitters.

Quantrill has not allowed a run over his last two starts (11 innings) and has a 1.91 ERA over his last eight starts. He owns the Twins, the team he’s faced more than any other in his career. In 12 career games against Minneapolis (nine starts), he’s 6-0 with a 2.89 ERA.